Keno game with wild symbol

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a keno game including a set of playable symbols, from which a set of player symbols are selected. A set of winning symbols are selected from a set of potential winning symbols, with the set of potential winning symbols including the set of playable symbols and at least one wild symbol. The wild symbol may match any one of the player symbols, none of the player symbols, or a range of player symbols. The playable symbols are preferably numbers. Payouts preferably follow a pay table having a weighted probability based on the total number of symbols in the set of potential winning symbols.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a game of chance, and more particularly to a keno game incorporating at least one wild symbol.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a standard game of keno, a player chooses between one and ten numbers from the numbers 1-80. Keno may be played electronically on a video keno machine wherein players select numbers using touch-screen technology, or live, with players selecting numbers by marking tickets. After a player selects numbers, twenty winning numbers are randomly selected from the field of eighty numbers. Weighted average paytables are used to award a payout based on the number of player numbers which matching the winning numbers. Typically, the paytables are based on the number of “spots” picked, or the number of player numbers selected. The more numbers that match, the higher the payout.

In a live keno game, typically the playable numbers (i.e., 1-80) are represented by eighty keno balls numbered 1 through 80. An air blower device circulates the balls within the device. The winning numbers are selected by randomly choosing twenty of the eighty balls. On a typical video keno machine, the winning numbers are displayed as “balls”, much like the winning numbers in the live keno game. The winning numbers enter a 2×10 grid as they are selected. In each game, there is a place on the screen or the game board where the winning numbers are displayed. In traditional keno games, the winning symbols are selected only among the playable symbols.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a keno game for play by a player. The game includes a set of playable symbols, from which a set of player symbols are selected, preferably by the player. A set of winning symbols are selected from a set of potential winning symbols, with the set of potential winning symbols including the set of playable symbols and at least one wild symbol. In one aspect of the present invention, the wild symbol is selected from a set other than the set of playable symbols. In another aspect of the present invention, the wild symbol matches any one of the player symbols. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the wild symbol represents a set of wild symbols selected from among the set of playable symbols, with the wild symbol matching any player symbol falling within the set of wild symbols. In still another aspect of the present invention, the wild symbol acts as a blank, matching none of the player symbols. The game may be a video-type game or utilize tangible symbols within the scope of the invention.

The set of potential winning symbols may include a plurality of wild symbols. The wild symbols may be substantially identical. Additionally, at least one of the wild symbols may be a bonus wild symbol, with the player being awarded a bonus if the bonus wild symbol is among the set of winning symbols. A player may also be awarded a bonus if a predetermined number of the wild symbols are present among the set of winning symbols. The playable symbols are preferably numbers. Payouts preferably follow a pay table having a weighted probability based on the total number of symbols in the set of potential winning symbols.

The present invention also provides a method of playing a keno game having a player. First, a set of playable symbols is defined. Next, a set of player symbols is selected from the set of playable symbols. A set of potential winning symbols is then defined, with the set of potential winning symbols including the set of playable symbols and at least one wild symbol. A set of winning symbols is selected from the set of potential winning symbols. The set of player symbols are compared to the set of winning symbols, with a payout being awarded to a player if a predetermined number of the set of player symbols match the set of winning symbols. Preferably, the player selects the set of player symbols. The wild symbol preferably matches at least one of the player symbols. The set of potential winning symbols may include a plurality of wild symbols within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a display according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flowchart presenting a method of playing a game according the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals equal like parts, FIG. 1 is a schematic of a display 10 according to the present invention. Particularly, the display 10 shows a video keno screen incorporating the present invention. While the game has been described herein in terms of a video-type keno game, the game may be played on a video display or using a tangible display within the scope of the present invention. A set of playable symbols is shown at 12. As shown, the set of playable symbols 12 includes the numbers 1-80, as with a traditional keno game. However, it should be noted that the symbols could be any sort of symbols, and need not be numbers to practice the present invention. A set of player symbols 14, P₁ through P₁₀, are selected from among the playable symbols. The set of player symbols 14 may include any number of symbols. For example, a player in a typical keno game selects between three and ten symbols.

A set of potential winning symbols 16 includes the set of playable symbols 12 and at least one wild symbol 18. By way of example, FIG. 1 shows two wild symbols 18, B₁ and B₂. The game further includes a set of winning symbols 20, W₁ through W₂₀. The wining symbols 20 are selected from among the set of potential winning symbols 16, such that the wild symbol or symbols 18 may be present among the set of winning symbols 20. In a live setting, the wild symbols 18 may be actual balls that are mixed in with the set of playable symbols 12 prior to selection of the winning symbols 20. In a video-type keno game, a processor will preferably randomly select the winning symbols 20 from the set of potential winning symbols 16 to achieve the same result. Since the winning symbols 20 are selected from the set of potential winning symbols 16, which includes at least one bonus symbol 18, the odds are substantially different for the game according to the present invention than for traditional keno games. Particularly, the payouts awarded will follow a pay table having a weighted probability based on the total number of symbols in the set of potential winning symbols 16.

When the game is played, there is a potential that one or more of the wild symbols 18 will be present among the set of winning symbols 20. When the invention is used in a live keno setting, the wild symbol 18 may be a ball that is physically displayed along with the rest of the winning symbols 20. In a video-type keno game, if wild symbols 18 are among the set of winning symbols 20, they are accented in some way on the display. For instance, it may be decided that the wild symbols 18 are colored differently than the rest of the potential winning symbols 16. Thus, if a wild-colored symbol is among the set of winning symbols 20, the outcome of the game is altered as compared to traditional keno.

As with a traditional keno game, the game according to the present invention awards a payout to a player if a predetermined number of the player symbols 14 match winning symbols,20. However, with the potential for one or more of the winning symbols 20 to be wild symbols 18, the nature of the game changes. It may be that the wild symbol 18 matches exactly one, any one, of the player symbols 14. Thus, even if none of the player symbols 14 match winning symbols 20 in the traditional manner (i.e., one player symbol 14 is a “2” and one winning symbol 20 is a “2”), a player still earns one “match” for each bonus symbol 18 present among the set of winning symbols 20. It may also be the case that the wild symbol 18 may match a range of symbols. For example, the wild symbol 18 may be a ball that reads “10-19”, with that wild symbol 18 matching any one, or all, of the player symbols 14 which fall within that range. It may further be the case that the wild symbol 18 acts as a blank, and matches none of the player symbols 14. In this case, the wild symbol 18 may be, for example, a skull and crossbones, or a large red X. In any event, the addition of the wild symbol(s) 18 to the set of potential winning numbers 16 is the heart of the inventive concept; the manner in which the wild symbol 18 is used enhance the game may vary. It should be appreciated that the wild symbol 18 may be selected from a set other than the set of playable symbols 12, as when the wild symbol 18 is a blank or a colored ball. However, the wild symbol 18 may also be selected from among the set of playable symbols 12 within the scope of the present invention, as when the wild symbol 18 represents a range of numbers.

The game may include a plurality of wild symbols 18, as discussed herein. One or more of the wild symbols 18 may be a bonus wild symbol (not shown), with a player receiving a bonus award if the bonus wild symbol is among the set of winning symbols. It may also be the case that a player is awarded a bonus if a predetermined number of wild symbols 18 are present among the set of winning symbols 20. For example, if the set of potential winning symbols 16 includes four bonus symbols 18, a player may be awarded a bonus if three of the winning symbols 20 are bonus symbols 18.

While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, it is to be understood that the terminology used is intended to be in the nature of words and description rather than of limitation. Those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize that many modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced in a substantially equivalent way other than as specifically described herein. 

1. A keno game comprising: a set of playable symbols; a set of player symbols selected by a player from said set of playable symbols; a set of potential winning symbols; and a set of winning symbols preferably randomly selected from said set of potential winning symbols, said player being awarded a payout if a predetermined number of said set of player symbols match said set of winning symbols; wherein said set of potential winning symbols includes said set of playable symbols and at least one wild symbol.
 2. The game of claim 1, wherein said at least one wild symbol matches any one of said player symbols.
 3. The game of claim 1, wherein said at least one wild symbol matches any of said player symbols falling within a predetermined range.
 4. The game of claim 1, wherein said at least one wild symbol matches none of said player symbols.
 5. The game of claim 1, wherein said game is a video game.
 6. The game of claim 1, wherein said game is played with tangible symbols.
 7. The game of claim 1, wherein said set of potential winning symbols includes a plurality of wild symbols.
 8. The game of claim 7, wherein said plurality of wild symbols are substantially identical.
 9. The game of claim 7, wherein one of said plurality of wild symbols is a bonus wild symbol, said player receiving a bonus if said bonus wild symbol is among said set of winning symbols.
 10. The game of claim 7, wherein said player is awarded a bonus if a predetermined number of said plurality of wild symbols are present among said set of winning symbols.
 11. A method of playing a keno game having a player comprising: a), defining a set of playable symbols; b) selecting a set of player symbols from said set of playable symbols c) defining a set of potential winning symbols, said set of potential winning symbols including said set of playable symbols and at least one wild symbol; e) selecting a set of winning symbols from said set of potential winning symbols; e) comparing said set of player symbols to said set of winning symbols; f) awarding a payout to said player if a predetermined number of said set of player symbols match said set of winning symbols.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said player selects said set of player symbols.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least one wild symbol matches at least one of said player symbols.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein said set of potential winning symbols includes a plurality of wild symbols.
 15. A keno game comprising: a set of playable symbols; a set of player symbols selected by a player from said set of playable symbols; a set of potential winning symbols including said set of playable symbols and at least one wild symbol; and a set of winning symbols preferably randomly selected from said set of potential winning symbols, said player being awarded a payout if a predetermined number of said set of player symbols match said set of winning symbols; wherein said at least one wild symbol is selected from a set other than said set of playable symbols.
 16. The game of claim 15, wherein said playable symbols are numbers.
 17. The game of claim 15, wherein said payout follows a pay table having a weighted probability based on the total number of symbols in said set of potential winning symbols.
 18. The game of claim 15, wherein said at least one wild symbol matches any one of said player symbols.
 19. The game of claim 15, wherein said at least one wild symbol matches none of said player symbols.
 20. The game of claim 15, wherein said at least one wild symbol is a plurality of wild symbols. 